VTMED 6614 - Large Animal Emergency and Critical Care

Fall, Spring, Summer. 2 credits. Letter grades only.

Enrollment limited to: third- and fourth-year veterinary students.

R. Radcliffe, Staff.

The evaluation and management of critical patients and other emergency problems represents a significant component of the practice of large animal veterinary medicine. As emergency cases are frequently presented to these practitioners, it is imperative such veterinarians are well prepared. The focus of this clinical rotation is for students to acquire the knowledge, skills and thought processes necessary to triage large animal emergencies and manage critical patients. These skills include the appropriate evaluation, stabilization and treatment of emergency patients, and the management of post-operative cases and other critical patients. Participants access relevant information from various sources related to emergency and critical care medicine and surgery in an effort to understand and apply these principles to clinical cases. Participants primarily have patient care responsibilities in the Large Animal Intensive Care Unit of the Cornell University Hospital for Animals and work closely with technicians and clinicians to develop familiarity with technical and nursing procedures. In addition, students will learn common veterinary skills and techniques using teaching animals when time permits. The large animal emergency and critical care rotation is primarily an after-hours rotation.